Dominican Republic Project for Greg Norman Golf Course Design

By Brian Weis

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) has announced a new design project in Santo Domingo slated for completion in late 2019.

Vistas del Pedregal Golf & Country Club broke ground in fall 2018 and at completion will encompass an 18-hole, par-72, 7,225-yard course, world-class learning centre and short game complex.

Located in the heart of the Dominican Republic, the course is nestled in the mountainous area of Santo Domingo surrounded by majestic tropical forests featuring dramatic elevation changes and panoramic views.

GNGCD, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, has preserved the integrity of the land by developing the natural flow of the topography and incorporating the rich variety of native vegetation and natural surrounds into the golf landscape, enhancing strategy and playability at every hole.

The environmentally sustainable design focuses on a least disturbance approach and regeneration of the existing landscape, including the care and enhancement of creeks and streams and rescue of endemic flora with reinsertion back into the micro-systems of the project.

Particular considerations will be made for the maintenance of the course with use of organic products and an automated irrigation system that focuses on optimal water use and the demands of energy and natural resources. The course will be grassed with Latitude Bermuda on fairways, roughs and tees and Tif-Eagle Bermuda on greens. Bulk earth works and Rainbird irrigation are well under way.

"We have created a unique golfer experience at every hole at Vistas del Pedregal by working with what Mother Nature gave us. This approach bleeds into the overall philosophy of the entire development," said Greg Norman. "I am honoured to have the opportunity to leave a unique fingerprint in the Dominican Republic and enable future generations to experience the benefits of what an integrated golf and country club can offer."

Marcos Malespin, President of Vistas del Pedregal Golf & Country Club, said: "Vistas del Pedregal is one-of-a-kind in the Dominican Republic, born with the purpose of giving added value to the traditional concept of social and sports clubs.

"Greg Norman Golf Course Design is a world-class partner and adds tremendous value to the project. We are thrilled to have Greg and his team on-board."

This is the firm's first design in the Dominican Republic. GNGCD has opened 105 courses internationally, six of which are included in the 2018-2019 Golf Digest 'World's 100 Greatest' rankings: New South Wales GC (Australia,18), Ellerston (Australia, 31), The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip (Vietnam, 35), Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course (UAE,82), Danang Golf Club (Vietnam, 94) The National Moonah Course (Australia, 98).

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.